Manohar Parrikar discharged from Mumbai hospital, presents budget in Goa Assembly

Panaji: A week after his hospitalisation in Mumbai, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar was discharged on Thursday and soon after he flew to Goa to present the budget in the state Assembly.

File image of Manohar Parrikar. Reuters

Parrikar, who looked weak, spoke only for five minutes while presenting the budget around 3 pm, and left the House after it was adjourned sine die at around 3.30 pm.

In his address, he told the House that due to his ill health, he would not be able to present the entire budget on the floor. He said he would present the supplementary demand for grants before the end of the current financial year.

Parrikar was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on 15 February for a pancreatic problem. Soon after his discharge, he flew into Panaji and went to his residence. Thereafter, he reached the Assembly complex where he chaired a cabinet meeting, before presenting the budget.

The total budget size is Rs 17,123 crore, which is 6.84 percent higher than last year. The vote-on-account for the next five months was subsequently passed by the House.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Speaker of Goa Assembly Michael Lobo informed reporters outside the Assembly about the chief minister's discharge. "Parrikar has arrived in Goa. It is a good piece of news that he has been discharged. Parrikar has so much will power that he has recovered, and if he thinks that he should table the budget, he will come and do it," Lobo said.